Principles for High-Quality Youth Apprenticeship

High-quality youth apprenticeships offer young people affordable, reliable, and equitable pathways from high school to good jobs and postsecondary credentials. Youth apprenticeship can also deliver a positive return on employer investment by building a pipeline of young, diverse talent and fostering a culture of learning and innovation that attracts and retains employees.

In 2018, the Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship (PAYA) developed a set of guiding principles to define the program characteristics required to adequately serve the many stakeholders in youth apprenticeship—above all, learners. Below is an explanation of how these principles—career-oriented, equitable, adaptable, portable, and accountable—are critical to a well-designed youth apprenticeship that advances a community’s strategy for ensuring quality pathways to college and careers.